Question

Calculate the contact angle θ for olive oil if capillary action raises it to a height of 7.07 cm in a glass tube with a radius of 0.100 mm. Is this value consistent with that for most organic liquids?

a) 15.5°
b) 22.7°
c) 30.2°
d) 45.0°

Answer 1

Without specific values for surface tension and density of olive oil, we cannot calculate the exact contact angle. Normally, organic liquids have a contact angle less than 90 degrees on glass, so the angle would likely be small, suggesting one of the lower values given.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the contact angle θ for olive oil in capillary action given the height h is 7.07 cm and the radius r of the glass tube is 0.100 mm, we use the formula:

2T cos θ = hrg

However, as we do not have the value for the surface tension T or the density p of the olive oil provided in the question or the reference text, we cannot calculate the exact contact angle. Usually, the contact angle for most organic liquids on a glass surface is less than 90 degrees, indicating they wet the surface.

Because we don't have the specific numbers needed (T and p), we cannot select an answer from the options provided (a) 15.5°, (b) 22.7°, (c) 30.2°, or (d) 45.0° but we can state that typically organic liquids including olive oil tend to have a low contact angle, suggesting that options (a) or (b) might be probable if we were given the specific values needed for calculation.